Queen of cabaret

If you lived in New Zealand during the 1980s and ‘90s, you’ll likely remember Debbie Dorday, the vibrant owner and beating heart of Burgundy’s cabaret club in Auckland’s Parnell.

Burgundy’s was more than just a venue; it was a household name, celebrated for its dazzling live performances and its famous TV commercials featuring Debbie herself, delivering her signature tagline, “See you at Burgundy’s!”

Born to perform

Debbie’s flair for the stage was evident early on. At just 10 years of age, she began attending the Aida Foster Theatre School in London, an academy for talented young performers.

Here, she trained in everything from singing and acting, to the delicate art of falling down the stairs. “Looking back, it was a fabulous experience, and I loved it.

We learned everything from singing and dancing to speaking in different accents,” she recalls.

Debbie’s journey to drama school, however, was a little unconventional. Her father, an Oxford-educated clergyman, remained unaware of her secret schooling. “It was a little bit naughty,” Debbie admits. “He thought I was training at Sadler’s Wells Ballet School, but my mother had secretly auditioned me for drama school instead!”

By the age of 16, Debbie had joined the famed Moulin Rouge, touring Europe in traditional costumes that paid homage to the cabaret’s 1890s can-can roots. “There was nothing brief about the costumes back then,” she says, recalling the layers of cotton petticoats, bloomers and traditional boots and bonnets they performed in. “It was a fabulous time.”

From Europe to Auckland

Debbie’s journey eventually brought her to New Zealand in the late 1970s with her first husband where she raised three children. However, her passion for performing called her back to the stage and in 1984, she opened Burgundy’s, Auckland’s answer to Broadway cabaret.

“Burgundy’s was a full night out – dinner and a show, followed by dancing,” Debbie reminisces. “There wasn’t the money to hire someone, so I did everything myself: making costumes, choreographing routines, dancing, and performing. It was incredibly hard work, but people loved it.”

“We had some wonderful dancers and artists. There’s something about talented performers – they can be unbelievably funny, and backstage was like a family. That’s what I miss the most. I still search for the comedy in conversations and sometimes have to apologise!” Debbie laughs.

Still in the spotlight

Happily living at Gulf Rise with husband Michael, Debbie may not kick as high as she did in her heyday, but she proves true performers never lose their shine; they simply find new ways to light up the room.

For the past two decades, Debbie has teamed up with talented musician and entertainer Jim Joll, performing award-winning musical comedy shows, while Michael manages the technical side of the shows, including the sound and lighting.

“We perform non-stop physical comedy for an hour and a half, with up to 40 costume changes between us. Each show is about eight hours of work from pack-in to pack-out, so it’s exhausting, but we make a great double act,” Debbie says.

Advice for the next generation

Reflecting on her six decades in showbiz, Debbie shares a piece of advice for younger generations. “It’s great to travel and have fun when you’re young, but by the time you’re 25, you should have a good idea of what you want your future to look like. “And if it’s on the stage, then God help you!” she laughs.